Health tech company selects three CU campuses as academic partners to advance disruptive innovations in patient care
Global healthcare technology company Medtronic has announced a strategic research agreement with CU Anschutz Innovations to accelerate the development of novel health technologies. The University of Colorado (CU) team was selected from a nationwide search for academic institutions positioned to lead the future of healthcare innovation.
The agreement marks the second academic strategic partnership established by Medtronic. Designed to be a long-term collaboration, the partnership aims to drive breakthrough solutions in disruptive areas of healthcare - such as AI, robotics, sustainability and advanced materials.
This unique collaboration will span across CU Anschutz, CU Boulder and CU Denver, harnessing the diverse expertise and innovation strengths of each campus to address some of the most pressing health challenges today. The partnership was formally launched at a joint summit event at CU Anschutz on Jan. 22, 2026, where priority research projects and initiatives for advancement were identified.
Jim Peichel, chief technology officer of Medtronic, speaks as part of the strategic research agreement program at CU Anschutz Innovations on Jan. 22.
"This agreement represents a bold step forward in how academic institutions and industry leaders can work together to drive meaningful innovation," said Kim Muller, vice chancellor for innovation and biotechnology at CU Anschutz and executive director of CU Anschutz Innovations. "By leveraging the strengths of our campuses and aligning with the Medtronic mission, we are creating a powerful platform for discovery and impact."
Together, Medtronic and the CU campuses aim to deliver technologies that move from lab to bedside faster - bringing real benefits to patients. The collaboration will initially focus on three transformative areas aligned to the Medtronic global technology strategy: sustainability, robotics and artificial intelligence.
"This agreement represents a bold step forward in how academic institutions and industry leaders can work together to drive meaningful innovation."
- Kim Muller, vice chancellor for innovation and biotechnology at CU Anschutz and executive director of CU Anschutz Innovations
"We are thrilled to welcome the University of Colorado as our newest academic strategic research partner," said Jim Peichel, chief technology officer at Medtronic. "Together, we will explore new frontiers that are critical to the future of healthcare and to the Medtronic mission of alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life."
CU Anschutz Innovations serves as the medical campus's hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, connecting researchers, clinicians and industry partners to accelerate the development of groundbreaking healthcare solutions. Through IP and licensing support, strategic partnerships and commercialization resources, their team transforms academic discoveries into real-world applications that improve patient care and advance global health.
"This initiative brings together CU Anschutz's strengths in health sciences research with industry insights to address key challenges in healthcare - from sustainability to robotics and data-driven innovation," said John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA, University of Colorado Anschutz vice chancellor for health affairs and dean, CU Anschutz School of Medicine. "It's an exciting step toward our mission of bringing innovative technologies from the lab to the bedside, delivering real benefits to patients more swiftly and effectively."
This collaboration reflects the University of Colorado's continued leadership in research and innovation and its dedication to fostering collaborative relationships that translate academic excellence into real-world solutions.
Photo at top: From left to right: Phillip De Leon, associate vice chancellor for research, CU Denver; Jim Peichel, chief technology officer, Medtronic; Kim Muller, vice chancellor for innovation and biotechnology at CU Anschutz and executive director of CU Anschutz Innovations; and Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor, innovation and partnerships, CU Boulder, at the signing of the strategic research agreement.
